Two men were jailed for nine years by the Special Criminal Court today for having bomb-making equipment in Dublin.
Cormac Fitzpatrick (23) of Cathedral Walk, Monaghan, Co Monaghan and Terry McConnell (26), originally from Co Fermanagh but with an address at Tullymore Gardens, Andersontown, Belfast were convicted last December of unlawfully possessing explosive materials at The Crescent, Park West Pointe, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 on September 9th, 2008.
Imposing the nine year jail term today, the special three judge, non-jury court with Mr Justice Paul Butler presiding, said the offence was of “a very serious nature” and that both men had been caught “virtually red-handed”.
The court said the sentence took into account the fact that neither man had any previous convictions, that they had both been of good character prior to the incident and that they suffered from on-going health problems.
Their trial before the court late last year heard how enough explosive material, to fully construct four pipe bombs, was discovered when members of the Special Detective Unit raided the one-bedroom flat in the early hours of September 9th, 2008.
Among the bomb-making paraphernalia found in the kitchen were four black pieces of steel piping, nails, bulbs, batteries, surgical gloves and hundreds of grams of propellant powder.
Seven travel alarm clocks were also discovered, several of which were being adapted to act as “timers.
Armed detectives found Fitzpatrick and McConnell standing in the bathroom, wearing latex gloves.
Also discovered in the bathroom was a clock with wiring coming from it, two batteries and a plate containing an explosive substance that had been partially scorched or burnt.
Superintendent Diarmaid O’Sullivan, Special Detective Unit, today told Mr Paul Greene SC, for the DPP that the two were among four men arrested at the apartment.
Supt O’Sullivan said a large amount of bomb making paraphernalia was found “for the purposes of constructing bombs”, namely pipe bombs. He said such improvised explosives were often used in gangland crime or subversive activity, and were “lethal in short range, capable of killing”.
The sentencing hearing also heard that a number of four inch nails were discovered which Supt O’Sullivan said were commonly wrapped around pipe bombs to “create a more devastating effect”.
The court heard Fitzpatrick, a plumber, had been “an honest and considerate student” while at school. His former secondary school principal, Frank McManus told Mr Anthony Sammon SC, for Fitzpatrick, that as a teenager, he achieved the top place in the country for his Junior Certificate engineering project, and second in the country for the project he put together at Leaving Certificate level.
The court was told that Fitzpatrick does not accept his conviction.
Michael Bowman BL, on behalf of McConnell, said his client was the father of a young baby, and that at the time of the incident he was working as a fruit and vegetable salesman.
The court backdated McConnell’s sentence by four months to account for time already served in custody. Fitzpatrick’s sentence was backdated by two months.